“Lord, I Need You!”

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. -Psalm 34:17

In 2016, Ana Cristina Paitanmala graduated from high school and was determined to attend college for an education degree, but she had a difficult decision to make. As an active Sunday School teacher and youth leader, she loved seeing the children of the Cristo Vive church grow in their walk with Christ, but if she wanted to achieve the degree, it would mean she would need to step down from serving.

The state university she would be attending was a prestigious one. And though it was the closest college to her town, it was over an hour away. Her father worked at a small shop and her mom received a small fee from helping others in their community; Ana would need to find a job to cover the university expenses. She did not have any other options. Lost and without answers, she prayed fervently for God to intervene and perform a miracle. God answered her prayers through Riverside Tree where she was matched with loving sponsors who supported her financially to attend school. They also provided spiritual guidance, which encouraged her to continue to serve the youth in her church. God delivered her from her troubles and now, in 2021, Ana has graduated with her degree and found a job in a school near her. This would allow her to not only work professionally but also better serve her church family. Her future seemed so bright!

But once again, Ana feels lost and without answers. Her parents both got infected with COVID-19 and her mother passed away a few days later. Her heart was devastated. While still grieving, her father was hospitalized. Ana Cristina and her father are in desperate need of our prayers. Please pray for a complete healing in her father, heavenly consolation of her heart, and reassurance that God will once again perform a miracle through this time of struggles.